Chapter 1024: The Selection Battle for the Qiang King

At Dian Wei’s level of strength, his opponents only fell into two categories: those who could dodge his attacks and those who would be instantly defeated. A strong internal energy master would always try to maintain distance from Dian Wei. Engaging him in close combat was essentially a death wish, as his immense strength was not something a person could endure.

For those who couldn’t even manage to create distance, it would result in an instant defeat. It’s important to note that Dian Wei’s punches were so powerful that even formidable fighters like Lü Bu and Zhao Yun would be severely injured if they took one unguarded punch. Other warriors stood no chance at all.

Having casually dispatched an internal energy master from the Qiang and Hu tribes, Dian Wei clapped his hands and headed towards the meeting area. There was no pressure on him at all, and he was confident that apart from Ma Chao, no one would know what he had just done.

[This isn’t challenging enough.] Dian Wei rubbed his head with his large, fan-like hands, feeling no excitement from dealing with such weaklings. He craved fighting experts, and at his current level, only warriors like Ma Chao could provide a real challenge. Anyone else would simply be walking into their own defeat.

"Where is Pucha Hong?" As the head elder who guarded the ancestral land, he noticed that, while the other three elders had arrived, the newly appointed Fifth Elder was absent.

"He’s probably out hunting falcons," the third elder, gritting his teeth, responded. Both he and Pucha Hong came from the ancient Qiang tribe, and their relationship was relatively close, so he stepped up to speak on Pucha Hong’s behalf.

"Absurd!" The head elder's face darkened in displeasure. As an elder recognized by all the Qiang tribes who guarded the ancestral land, Pucha Hong's absence from the crucial Hundred Qiang Alliance was unacceptable.

"I’ll go look for him immediately," the third elder hurriedly offered.

"No need. If he doesn’t want to come, we won’t find him anyway. He’s too skilled to be eaten by wolves on the grasslands, don’t you think?" the head elder grumbled, despite his frustration. After all, Pucha Hong was a master of internal energy. Though not as strong as him, Pucha Hong was still no one to trifle with.

The other three elders nodded in agreement. They were confident in Pucha Hong’s safety. Little did they know that he had met Dian Wei, who had casually killed him like he was squashing a chicken.

"Who are the participants in this year’s selection for the Qiang King?" Shaking off his concerns about Pucha Hong, the head elder turned his focus to the real matter at hand.

"Tribes like the Xianling Qiang, Shaodang Qiang, and Zhongcun Qiang have all sent people to participate in the selection. However, the Hequ Qiang tribe sent someone with Han blood this time," the second elder quickly reported.

"A person with Han blood competing in our Qiang King selection? Ridiculous! Hequ Qiang is a prominent tribe, and they’re resorting to such disgraceful actions," the third elder sneered. "Disqualify that person immediately."

"I think if he has Qiang blood and wants to participate, we should give him a chance. After all, no one has ever completed the selection anyway. The age requirement for the Qiang King makes it impossible," the fourth elder countered the third elder’s objection.

"Hmph, does our Qiang tribe lack good men so badly that we need a Han to fill the ranks?" the third elder growled, glaring at the fourth elder.

"He acknowledges his Qiang heritage by competing for the Qiang King title. Who are we to deny him the right to participate? The ancestral rules don’t prohibit it!" the fourth elder retorted coldly. He had long-standing conflicts with the third elder.

"Enough! If he wants to participate, let him. The Qiang King selection has never rejected anyone from the Qiang tribe, whether they are nobles, leaders, beggars, or slaves. Anyone can compete!" the head elder's cold gaze silenced both of them, finalizing the decision for the Qiang tribe.

"Fine, but if he manages to win fifty consecutive battles, I’ll step down and teach him a lesson myself," the third elder said, adding a condition, unable to challenge the head elder’s authority.

"It doesn’t matter. That’s part of the rules," the head elder said calmly. In the Qiang King selection, once a participant won fifty battles, an elder would step down to test the participant. However, the elders usually didn’t go all out and might even let the participant pass if they took a liking to them.

As for the so-called event where all elders fought, it could happen, but it had never occurred before. The elders were prideful and restrained. The first elder to step down would test the challenger, and then, after another ten victories, a second elder would defeat the participant. An elder who had fought once wouldn’t step down again.

Thus, under the head elder’s decree, Ma Chao unknowingly became a participant in the Qiang King selection.

The Qiang Alliance meeting was simple and straightforward. They slaughtered sheep and cattle, and over ten thousand people gathered in the open air despite the falling snow. After offering sacrifices to the ancient Qiang King, they all began feasting.

Dian Wei was immediately drawn to the meeting’s bold and hearty atmosphere. He particularly appreciated the open feast of beef and mutton, which suited his tastes perfectly. He devoured the food with gusto, like a whirlwind.

Meanwhile, Xun You stood quietly nearby. The snowflakes falling from the sky seemed to naturally avoid him, and he stood there in perfect harmony with the environment. People passed by him without even noticing his presence.

"The Qiang tribe’s numbers are astonishingly large, but how have such impoverished tribes managed to survive for so long? The influence of Han culture hasn’t been able to assimilate them even after all this time," Xun You silently observed the scene. Most of the Qiang nobles wore simple sheepskin coats, reflecting their destitution.

After a round of feasting, the cold wind and falling snow seemed to lose their chill. With the effects of wine and the feast, the atmosphere among the tribes became lively and exuberant, filling the air with excitement.

"Anyone who wishes to challenge for the position of Qiang King may begin now," the head elder suddenly appeared in the center of the meeting grounds, his booming voice reaching every Qiang and Hu member present.

"Oooh!" The crowd roared in response. The Qiang nobles and tribe leaders, who had been in the center of the gathering, quickly moved aside, leaving a hundred-meter-wide space in the middle.

"The battleground is here. Whoever wants to challenge for the title of Qiang King, step forward!" The head elder’s voice was filled with energy as he raised his long-handled iron hammer high. A burst of green light shot out, shattering the storm clouds above. Sunlight pierced through the clouds, illuminating the area.

"The selection for the Qiang King begins now!" Having completed his task, the head elder paid no mind to the shocked expressions around him. After issuing his final command, he retreated swiftly. If he were ten years younger, he would have participated in the Qiang King selection himself. But now, he could only serve as the referee.

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